ADVANCE SHEET Dauphin County Reporter - Dauphin County Bar ...

Page created by Clyde Martin
 
CONTINUE READING
ADVANCE SHEET Dauphin County Reporter - Dauphin County Bar ...
Dauphin County Reporter
                                     ADVANCE SHEET
                                                     (USPS 810-200)
                               A weekly Journal containing the decisions rendered in the 12th
                                                     Judicial District
                                     No. 6164 Vol. 126        September 7, 2018              No: 167

Entered as Second Class Matter, February 16, 1898, at the Post Office at Harrisburg, PA., under the Act
of Congress of March 31, 1879.

TERMS: Advertisements must be received before 12 o’clock noon on Tuesday of each week at the office
of the Dauphin County Reporter, 213 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101: Telephone: (717) 232-
7536, option #4.

Diaz v. Dept. of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing                                               254
Bar Association Page                                                                      Back Pages
ADVANCE SHEET Dauphin County Reporter - Dauphin County Bar ...
The                                                 Estate Notices
      Dauphin County Reporter                                  DECEDENTS ESTATES
        Edited and published
               by the                               NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that letters testa-
                                                   mentary or of administration have been granted in
   Dauphin County Bar Association                  the following estates. All persons indebted to the
       213 North Front Street                      estate are required to make payment, and those
       Harrisburg, PA 17101                        having claims or demands to present the same
                                                   without delay to the administrators or executors or
          (717) 232-7536                           their attorneys named below.

       ELIZABETH G. SIMCOX                                     FIRST PUBLICATION
              Executive Director
                                                                     Estate Notices
        KENDRA HEINBAUGH
                Office Manager                      ESTATE OF GEORGE W. KUNKEL, M.D. a/
       BRIDGETTE L. HILBISH                        k/a GEORGE WOODRUFF KUNKEL, late of
     CLE Coordinator/Reporter Designer             Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Penn-
                                                   sylvania (died: July 31, 2018). Executor: Shelly J.
                                                   Kunkel, c/o P.O. Box 60974, Harrisburg, Pennsyl-
                 Printed by:                       vania 17106-0974; Attorney, Shelly J. Kunkel,
                 K-PRESS                           Esq., P.O. Box 60974, Harrisburg, PA 17106-
       P.O. Box 1626, York, PA 17405               0974. (717) 574-1283.                       s7-21
                                                    ESTATE OF SHELVEY L. SCHAUER, late of
                                                   Lower Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Penn-
THE DAUPHIN COUNTY REPORTER (USPS                  sylvania, (died: June 28, 2018). Executor: Rus-
810-200) is published weekly by the Dauphin        sell J. Schauer, Jr., 4219 Beagle Road, Elizabeth-
County Bar Association, 213 North Front Street,    town, PA 17022. Attorney: John S. Davidson,
Harrisburg, PA 17101. Periodical postage paid at   Esquire, Yost & Davidson, 320 West Chocolate
Harrisburg, PA. POSTMASTER: Send address           Avenue, P.O. Box 437, Hershey, PA 17033-0437.
changes to THE DAUPHIN COUNTY REPORT-                                                           s7-21
ER, 213 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA
17101.                                              ESTATE OF WILLIAM EDWARD RUDY
                                                   JR., a/k/a/ WILLIAM E. RUDY, JR., late of
                                                   East Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Penn-
TERMS: Advertisements must be received before      sylvania. Executor: John D'Allura, 419 South
12 o’clock noon on Tuesday of each week at the     Franklin Street, Palmyra, PA 17078 or to Attor-
office of the Dauphin County Reporter, 213 North   ney: Joseph M. Farrell, 201/203 South Railroad
Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101; Telephone:     Street, P.O. Box 113, Palmyra, PA 17078. s7-21
(717) 232-7536, opt #4; Email: Bridgette@dcba-
pa.org                                              ESTATE OF JUDITH STEIN, late of Harris-
                                                   burg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (died: July
                                                   26, 2018). Executor: Kenneth A. Rapp. Attorney:
                                                   Bruce J. Warshawsky, Esquire, Cunningham,
                                                   Chernicoff & Warshawsky, P.C., 2320 North
                                                   Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110.     s7-21
                                                    ESTATE OF EDWIN H. MEASE, late of
                                                   Derry Township, Dauphin County, PA, (died: July
                                                   24, 2018). Executor: Scott N. Mease, c/o George
                                                   W. Porter, Esquire, 909 East Chocolate Avenue,
                                                   Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033.              s7-21

                                                    ESTATE OF BRYAN WAGNER, a/k/a GIL-
                                                   BERT BRYAN WAGNER, late of Middle Pax-
                                                   ton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania,.
                                                   Executrix: Betty A. Wagner, c/o Gerald J. Brinser,
                                                   P. O. Box 323, Palmyra, PA 17078 - Attorney.
                                                                                               s7-21
ADVANCE SHEET Dauphin County Reporter - Dauphin County Bar ...
254                                  DAUPHIN COUNTY REPORTS                                  [126 DAUPHIN
                            Diaz v. Dept. of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing

III.        Conclusion.

            Accordingly, we respectfully suggest that the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania affirm the

proceedings before this Court of January 10, 2018 and the rescinding of Mr. Hoffman’s license suspension,

and dismiss the appeal in this matter.

                          Diaz v. Dept. of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing

Motor Vehicles - Driver License Suspension - Driving Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance
- Reasonable Grounds Standard - Refusal to Submit to Chemical Testing

Petitioner was the sole occupant of a vehicle involved in a two-car collision. The police officer at the scene
detected the odor of burnt marijuana in petitioner’s vehicle, and seized two marijuana “roaches” from the
car, one of which was freshly burnt. Petitioner refused to submit to chemical testing of his blood, and was
subsequently notified by PennDOT that his license was being suspended pursuant to the Implied Consent
Law. He appealed the suspension.

1. Section 1547 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, commonly referred to as the “Implied Consent Law,”
authorizes suspension of the driving privileges of a licensee for a period of time when the licensee is
arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance and the licensee refuses a
police officer’s request to submit to chemical testing. 75 Pa.C.S. §1547. To sustain a license suspension
under the Implied Consent Law, PennDOT has the initial burden of proving that the driver: (1) was arrested
for driving under the influence by a police officer who had reasonable grounds to believe that the licensee
was operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, (2) was asked to
submit to a chemical test, (3) refused to do so, and (4) was warned that a refusal would result in a license
suspension. Zwibel v. Com., Dep’t. of Transp. Bureau of Driver Licensing, 832 A.2d 599, 604 (Pa.
Commw. Ct. 2003).

2. For purposes of a license suspension, an officer has reasonable grounds to believe a motorist was
operating a vehicle under the influence “if a reasonable person in the position of a police officer, viewing
the facts and circumstances as they appeared to the officer at the time, could conclude that the driver drove
his car while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. McCallum v. Commonwealth, 592
A.2d 820, 822 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1991).

3. Unlike cases where police suspect alcohol-based DUI, evidence of operator consumption of any
marijuana is enough to allow police to request a section 1547 blood test for suspected controlled substance-
based DUI. Such evidence includes the distinct odor of burnt marijuana emanating from a vehicle in
which the operator is the sole occupant. Commonwealth v. Jones, 121 A.3d 524 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015),
rehearing denied at No. 1286 WDA 2014, appeal denied at 135 A.3d 584 (Pa. 2016).

Driver License Suspension Appeal. C.P., Dau. Co., No. 2018-CV-01027-LS. Dismissed.

Mark R. Calore, for the Commonwealth

Lawrence J. Rosen, for the Petitioner

Clark, S.J., August 23, 2018.
ADVANCE SHEET Dauphin County Reporter - Dauphin County Bar ...
254 (2018)]                            DAUPHIN COUNTY REPORTS                                          255
                             Diaz v. Dept. of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing

                        TRIAL COURT MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER

              Currently before this Court is Petitioner Jean Alexis Diaz’s (“Petitioner”) challenge to the

decision of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensing (“PennDOT”) to

suspend his driver’s license for twelve (12) months pursuant to Section 1547(b)(1)(i) of the Pennsylvania

Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § 1547(b)(1)(i).        For the reasons set forth below, we REINSTATE the

suspension of Petitioner’s license and DISMISS his appeal.

I.    Background.

              Petitioner’s license suspension arises out of a traffic incident which occurred in the city of

Harrisburg during the early morning hours of December 20, 2017. Following a two-car collision between

Petitioner and another motorist, Petitioner was arrested for Driving Under the Influence, and he

subsequently refused to submit to chemical testing of his blood. On or about January 15, 2018, PennDOT

mailed a letter to Petitioner, notifying him that because his refusal to submit to blood testing violated

provisions of the Implied Consent Law as contained in the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. §

1547, he would be subjected to a twelve (12)-month driver’s license suspension effective February 19,

2018. On February 9, 2018, Petitioner, through counsel, filed in this Court an appeal of his license

suspension. On February 13, 2018, we issued an Order scheduling an Appeal Hearing in this matter, and

ordering that the impending suspension of Petitioner’s driver’s license be stayed pending this Court’s final

decision in this matter. The parties, each represented by counsel, appeared before the undersigned for a

License Suspension Hearing (“the Hearing”) on May 9, 2018.

              Two witnesses testified at the hearing. First, Harrisburg City Police Officer Angel Diaz

(hereinafter “Officer Diaz” or “the Officer”), who responded to the December 20, 2017 collision between

Petitioner and the other motorist, testified on behalf of the Commonwealth. Then, Petitioner’s father, Julio

Diaz (hereinafter “Julio Diaz” or “Julio”), who also was present at the scene of the collision, testified on

behalf of Petitioner. Officer Diaz and Julio Diaz provided somewhat differing accounts of the events

pertinent to this action, and, therefore, each witness’s testimony will be summarized below.

              A.   Officer Diaz’s Testimony

              Officer Diaz testified that at around 4:48 a.m. on December 20, 2017, he responded to a two-

car collision between a tan Toyota Camry (hereinafter “the Camry”) and a black Mercedes-Benz

(hereinafter “the Mercedes”) at the intersection of Seventeenth and Berryhill Streets in the City of

Harrisburg. (Notes of Testimony, 5/9/18 License Suspension Appeal Hearing, hereinafter “N.T.,” at 5-6).
ADVANCE SHEET Dauphin County Reporter - Dauphin County Bar ...
256                                  DAUPHIN COUNTY REPORTS                                   [126 DAUPHIN
                            Diaz v. Dept. of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing

The Camry’s owner and operator, identified as Evasio Volera (“Volera”), suffered various facial injuries

which were treated by emergency medical services. (N.T. at 5-6). The operator of the Mercedes was

identified as Petitioner.1 (N.T. at 6). After the drivers were identified, Officer Diaz began speaking with

each of them to “get their side of the story as to what happened to cause the vehicle collision.” (N.T. at 6).

When speaking with Petitioner, the Officer noticed that Petitioner’s pupils were constricted, and that

Petitioner’s tongue exhibited a greenish hue. (N.T. at 6). Petitioner told the Officer that the greenish hue

was caused by a recently consumed mint, but the Officer recalled that he “didn’t smell any freshness on

[Petitioner’s] breath.” (N.T. at 6-7). The Officer also testified that he smelled an odor of burnt marijuana

coming from the Mercedes, which was “slightly masked with some type of perfume spray or something

like that.” (N.T. at 6, 8, 15). However, the Officer did not smell any odor of marijuana on Petitioner’s

person, nor did he observe staggering, swaying, speech slurring, or any other physical signs to indicate that

Petitioner was impaired in any way. (N.T. at 17-18).

            Officer Diaz did not administer field sobriety tests to Petitioner because he (the Officer) was

not certified to do so, and according to the Officer, there were no other law-enforcement officers on the

scene that were qualified to do so.2 (N.T. at 16, 18, 33). Nonetheless, the odor of marijuana in the

Mercedes prompted Officer Diaz to conduct a search of the Mercedes, and upon doing so, the Officer found

two marijuana “roaches”3 in the vehicle’s center ashtray. (N.T. at 8). One of the roaches appeared to be “a

little older,” and the other one appeared to be “a little more fresh.” (N.T. at 8). Officer Diaz testified that

after he found the marijuana roaches, he placed Petitioner under arrest for suspicion of Driving Under the

Influence (“DUI”), and then seized both marijuana roaches from the Mercedes. (N.T. at 8, 32).

            After being placed under arrest, Petitioner was transported to the Dauphin County Booking

Center and seated in an interview room. (N.T. at 8). There, Officer Diaz requested that Petitioner submit

to chemical testing of his blood, and read to Petitioner PennDOT’s “DL-26B form,” which warned

Petitioner that his refusal to submit to chemical testing would result in a suspension of his driving

privileges. (See N.T. at 8-11). Petitioner nonetheless refused to submit to a blood test. (N.T. at 9, 11).

            B.    Julio Diaz’s Testimony

1
  Petitioner’s father, Julio Diaz, was the owner of the Mercedes. (N.T. at 6).
2
  Although none may have been present on the scene, this Court is aware that the City of Harrisburg has a
cadre of Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) who, if called to the scene, could have administered specialized
field sobriety tests to determine whether Petitioner was under the influence of drugs. It does not appear that
Officer Diaz attempted to summon those resources.
3
 Officer Diaz described a marijuana “roach” as follows: “It’s the small end of a marijuana cigarette, pretty
much leftover what somebody doesn’t – it usually ends up being a real small piece, pretty much what ends
up in someone’s mouth.” (N.T. at 8).
254 (2018)]                            DAUPHIN COUNTY REPORTS                                             257
                             Diaz v. Dept. of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing

              The second witness to testify at the hearing was Julio Diaz, Petitioner’s father. Julio testified

that he and his wife were in bed at the time the car accident occurred, but after they received a call from

Petitioner, they traveled to the scene of the accident about ten (10) minutes away. (N.T. at 22-23). Upon

first arriving at the scene, Julio observed Petitioner and the Mercedes, which had all of its doors and

windows wide open. (N.T. at 23, 27). Julio recalled that there were various police officers on the scene

when he first arrived, but he did not believe that Officer Diaz was one of them. (N.T. at 23). One of the

officers directed Julio to obtain his belongings from the Mercedes because it was going to be towed away

from the scene. (N.T. at 24, 26). According to Julio, there was no marijuana in the Mercedes, nor were

there any marijuana roaches. (N.T. at 26). Julio testified that after he and his wife were on the scene of the

accident for about ten (10) minutes, he was preparing to take Petitioner to the hospital when Officer Diaz

“showed up out of nowhere.” (N.T. at 24-25). Officer Diaz expressed that he was tired of stopping

Petitioner for traffic violations, and he suddenly asked Petitioner to stick his tongue out. (N.T. at 25). Julio

testified that at this point, Officer Diaz placed Petitioner under arrest, and thereafter, proceeded to search

Petitioner’s Mercedes. (N.T. at 25).

              At the close of the Hearing, we afforded each party ten (10) days to file a post-Hearing Brief or

Memorandum of Law in support of their respective positions. PennDOT filed a post-Hearing Brief on May

16, 2018. The undersigned was subsequently served in chambers with a copy of Petitioner’s post-Hearing

Brief drafted by Petitioner’s Counsel and dated May 24, 2018.4 The matter is now ripe for this Court’s

disposition. Having reviewed the law applicable to this case, we find that stare decisis demands we rule in

favor of the Commonwealth and reinstate the suspension of Petitioner’s license.

II.   Discussion.

              Section 1547 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, commonly referred to as the “Implied Consent

Law,” authorizes suspension of the driving privileges of a licensee for a period of time when the licensee is

arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance and the licensee refuses a

police officer’s request to submit to chemical testing. 75 Pa.C.S. § 1547. To sustain a license suspension

under the Implied Consent Law, PennDOT has the initial burden of proving that the driver: (1) was arrested

for driving while under the influence by a police officer who had reasonable grounds to believe that the

licensee was operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, (2) was

4
 Although Petitioner’s post-Hearing Brief was dated May 24, 2018, it was not filed in the Prothonotary’s
Office until June 22, 2018.
258                                  DAUPHIN COUNTY REPORTS                                   [126 DAUPHIN
                            Diaz v. Dept. of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing

asked to submit to a chemical test, (3) refused to do so, and (4) was warned that a refusal would result in a

license suspension. Zwibel v. Com., Dep’t of Transp. Bureau of Driver Licensing, 832 A.2d 599, 604 (Pa.

Commw. Ct. 2003) (citing Banner v. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensing, 737 A.2d

1203 (Pa. 1999)). Once PennDOT meets that initial burden, “the licensee must then establish that his

refusal was not knowing or conscious or that he was physically unable to take the chemical test.” Id. at

658.

            In the instant matter, it is undisputed that Petitioner was asked to submit to a chemical test, that

he refused to do so, and that he was warned that such refusal would result in a license suspension. The

Petitioner, however, disputes whether Officer Diaz had “reasonable grounds” to believe that he (Petitioner)

was operating a vehicle under the influence on the morning in question. Thus, further discussion of the

“reasonable grounds” standard is warranted.

            Our courts have consistently recognized that “the sanctions imposed by the Implied Consent

Law, i.e., a license suspension, are civil in nature and are wholly unrelated to a criminal prosecution for

DUI, which is governed by Section 3802 of the Vehicle Code.” Sitoski v. Com., Dep’t of Transp., Bureau

of Driver Licensing, 11 A.3d 12, 21 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2010) (citing Witmer v. Com., Dep’t of Transp.,

Bureau of Driver Licensing, 880 A.2d 716, 719 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2005)); see also Dep’t of Transp., Bureau

of Driver Licensing v. Scott, 684 A.2d 539, 544 (Pa. 1996). To this end, “the standard of reasonable

grounds to support a license suspension is akin to the reasonable suspicion standard of the Fourth

Amendment and ‘does not rise to the level of probable cause required for a criminal prosecution.’” Regula

v. Com., Dep’t of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 146 A.3d 836, 843 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2016)

(quoting Banner, 737 A.2d at 1207). For purposes of a license suspension, an officer has reasonable

grounds to believe a motorist was operating a vehicle under the influence “if a reasonable person in the

position of a police officer, viewing the facts and circumstances as they appeared to the officer at the time,

could conclude that the driver drove his car while under the influence of alcohol [or a controlled

substance].” McCallum v. Commonwealth, 592 A.2d 820, 822 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1991)). “Nothing in [75

Pa.C.S. § 1547] requires an officer to be absolutely certain of intoxication prior to requesting a chemical

test.” Sisinni v. Dep’t of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 31 A.3d 1254, 1259 (Pa. Commw. Ct.

2011). “The issue of reasonable grounds is decided on a case-by-case basis, and an officer's reasonable

grounds are not rendered void if it is later discovered that the officer's belief was erroneous. The officer's

belief must only be objective in light of the surrounding circumstances.” Zwibel, 832 A.2d at 604 (internal

citation omitted); see also Sissini, 31 A.3d at 1259 (“It is well settled that the standard for reasonable
254 (2018)]                            DAUPHIN COUNTY REPORTS                                            259
                             Diaz v. Dept. of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing

grounds is not very demanding and the police officer need not be correct in his belief that the motorist had

been driving while intoxicated.”).

              Regarding the instant matter, we note from the outset that the evidence presented by the

Commonwealth in favor of its “reasonable grounds” assertion is far from bountiful, and that Officer Diaz

could have, with minimal effort, summoned further resources to more accurately determine Petitioner’s

sobriety at the scene of the accident. However, considering the laxity of the “reasonable grounds” standard

applied to civil license suspension cases, and upon review of specific case precedent cited by the

Commonwealth, we conclude that, although this case presents a close call, we must find in the

Commonwealth’s favor and uphold Petitioner’s license suspension.

              In arguing that Officer Diaz had reasonable grounds to believe that Petitioner was driving under

the influence of marijuana, PennDOT points to the following facts: (1) Officer Diaz determined that

Petitioner had caused a motor vehicle accident by running a red light; (2) Petitioner’s pupils were

constricted; (3) Petitioner’s tongue had a greenish hue; (4) Officer Diaz detected an odor of marijuana in

Petitioner’s vehicle; (5) Petitioner was the only occupant of his vehicle; (6) Officer Diaz testified that he

found two marijuana roaches in Petitioner’s vehicle, one of which was freshly burnt. PennDOT argues that

these facts taken as a whole establish that Officer Diaz had reasonable grounds to request that Petitioner

submit to a blood test. PennDOT also argues that even if much of this evidence had not been presented, the

odor of burnt marijuana alone would have been sufficient in light of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania’s

recent decision in Commonwealth v. Jones, 121 A.3d 524 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015), rehearing denied at No.

1286 WDA 2014, appeal denied at 135 A.3d 584 (Pa. 2016).

              Petitioner avers that much of the evidence presented by the Commonwealth was insufficient to

permit an inference that he was driving under the influence of marijuana. Specifically, Petitioner avers that

even though Officer Diaz testified that Petitioner was the cause of the car accident, Officer Diaz’s

conclusion was based upon hearsay evidence obtained at the scene. Moreover, regarding the evidence of

Petitioner’s greenish tongue and constricted pupils, Petitioner notes that Officer Diaz failed to provide

expert testimony to establish scientifically that constricted pupils and/or a green tongue are signs of

marijuana intoxication. Finally, as to Officer Diaz’s testimony regarding the marijuana roaches allegedly

found in the Mercedes, Petitioner avers that Officer Diaz did not present the roaches—or pictures thereof—

as evidence, nor did Officer Diaz present evidence to suggest that the roaches had been chemically

analyzed and deemed to contain marijuana. Also, Petitioner points to the testimony of Julio Diaz, who, in
260                                 DAUPHIN COUNTY REPORTS                                   [126 DAUPHIN
                           Diaz v. Dept. of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing

contradiction to Officer Diaz, stated that he observed no marijuana or roaches when he was cleaning out the

Mercedes at the scene of the accident.

            We agree with Petitioner that much of the evidence presented by the Commonwealth is

problematic, and we realize that the Commonwealth’s presentation of its case in this matter was far from

ideal. First, as Petitioner points out, regarding the evidence of the green-hued tongue and constricted

pupils, Officer Diaz failed to provide expert testimony to establish scientifically that constricted pupils

and/or a green tongue are signs of marijuana intoxication. In fact, Officer Diaz himself acknowledged

during cross-examination that there is a difference of opinion in the scientific community as to whether

marijuana use causes dilated or constricted pupils. (N.T. at 13-14). Furthermore, as for the evidence of the

roaches allegedly found in the Mercedes, there appears to be a dispute (based upon Julio Diaz’s testimony)

as to whether the roaches were found before or after Petitioner’s arrest, or if there were even any roaches at

all present in the Mercedes. And even if we accept Officer Diaz’s testimony that roaches indeed were

present in the console of the Mercedes, we note that the Commonwealth exhibited a woeful lack of

judgment and arguably undermined its case by failing to present the roaches or any evidence that the

roaches had been chemically analyzed to determine the presence of marijuana thereon.

            Disregarding much of the tenuous evidence assailed by Petitioner, however, PennDOT argues

that Officer Diaz’s testimony regarding an odor of burnt marijuana emanating from the Mercedes, by itself,

would have been sufficient to establish reasonable grounds for suspecting a DUI. In doing so, PennDOT

relies primarily on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania’s recent decision in Commonwealth v. Jones, 121

A.3d 524 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015), rehearing denied at No. 1286 WDA 2014, appeal denied at 135 A.3d 584

(Pa. 2016). Upon through review of the Jones case, we are constrained to agree with PennDOT.

            In Jones, a man named Patrick Scott Jones was stopped by a police officer due to a suspended

registration. Id. at 526. Upon approaching Jones, the officer immediately smelled a strong odor of burnt

marijuana emanating from Jones’s vehicle, of which he (Jones) was the sole occupant. Id. After discussing

the suspended registration, the officer ordered Jones from the vehicle, and placed him in handcuffs. Id.

The officer then requested that Jones submit to a blood test, and Jones complied. Id. The test confirmed

the presence of marijuana in Jones’s blood. Id. Jones was subsequently charged with DUI, and he moved

to suppress the results of the blood test, a motion which the trial court denied. The blood test results were

introduced as evidence in a bench trial against Jones, and he was ultimately convicted of DUI. Id.

            Jones appealed his conviction and sentence to the Superior Court. In doing so, Jones argued

that the trial court had erred in denying his motion to suppress the blood test results. Specifically, Jones
254 (2018)]                             DAUPHIN COUNTY REPORTS                                          261
                              Diaz v. Dept. of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing

argued that since caselaw has consistently held that an odor of alcohol does not permit an officer to request

section 1547 chemical testing,5 the officer should not have been permitted to request that he submit to

chemical blood testing based solely on the smell of marijuana in his vehicle. Id. at 527. Moreover, Jones

argued that officers must have corroborating evidence other than the mere odor of marijuana to be allowed

to request that a driver submit to a section 1547 blood test for controlled substances. Id.

              The Superior Court affirmed Jones’s conviction, and in doing so, rejected Jones’s argument

that the odor of burnt marijuana alone was insufficient to permit the officer to request Section 1547

chemical testing of his blood. The court acknowledged that while an odor of alcohol alone is generally

insufficient to permit an officer to request section 1547 chemical testing, the same cannot be said when an

officer is presented with the odor of marijuana alone because there are critical distinctions between

alcohol-related DUIs and controlled-substance-related DUIs. Specifically, the court stated:

                          [T]he Vehicle C ode treats consumption of alcohol
                          differently from consumption of marijuana. The Vehicle
                          Code does not preclude an adult from consuming any
                          amount of alcohol and then operating a motor vehicle in
                          Pennsylvania. See 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802(a). Instead, the
                          Vehicle Code precludes the operation of a motor vehicle
                          only “after imbibing a sufficient amount of alcohol such
                          that the individual is rendered incapable of safely driving,
                          operating or being in actual physical control of the
                          movement of the vehicle.” 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802(a)(1). On the
                          other hand, the Vehicle Code precludes an individual from
                          operating a motor vehicle with any amount of scheduled
                          controlled substance, or a metabolite thereof, in the driver's
                          blood. 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802(d). Because marijuana is a
                          Schedule I controlled substance, the Vehicle Code prohibits
                          an individual from operating a vehicle after consuming any
                          amount of marijuana.

Id. at 529 (emphasis in original). Bearing these distinctions in mind, the court noted that since a motorist

only can only commit an alcohol-based DUI offense if he or she imbibes an amount of alcohol that renders

the individual incapable of safe driving, an officer may not request section 1547 chemical testing on the

smell of alcohol alone and, instead must observe “further indicia of intoxication, such as erratic driving,

slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, balance issues, etc.” Id. at 528-29. However, since the Vehicle Code

prohibits a motorist from operating a motor vehicle with any amount of a scheduled controlled substance

(e.g. marijuana) in his or her bloodstream, the court noted that “unlike cases where police suspect alcohol-

based DUI, evidence of operator consumption of any marijuana is enough to allow police to request a

section 1547 blood test for suspected controlled substance-based DUI.” Id. at 529 (emphasis added). The

5
    See Jones, 121 A.3d at 528 n.7 (collecting cases).
262                                  DAUPHIN COUNTY REPORTS                                  [126 DAUPHIN
                            Diaz v. Dept. of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing

court then specifically stated that “[s]uch evidence includes the distinct odor of burnt marijuana emanating

from a vehicle in which the operator is the sole occupant.” Id. As such, the court held that, contrary to

Jones’s assertions, the officer’s testimony—albeit uncorroborated—regarding the smell of burnt marijuana

in Jones’s vehicle was a sufficient foundation for requesting section 1547 testing. See id. at 527.

            Thus, according to the dictate of Jones, if an officer testifies that he detected an odor of burnt

marijuana emanating from a vehicle in which a motorist was the sole occupant, this testimony alone is

sufficient evidence to establish that the officer had reasonable grounds to request section 1547 chemical

testing. This is precisely what happened in the instant matter. Petitioner has not attempted to dispute

Officer Diaz’s testimony that he detected an odor of marijuana emanating from the Mercedes at the scene

of the accident, nor has Petitioner provided evidence to dispute that Petitioner was the sole occupant of the

vehicle at the time of the accident. Rather, Petitioner attempts to distinguish the instant matter from Jones

by emphasizing the alleged weakness of the marijuana odor detected by Officer Diaz. Specifically,

Petitioner argues that the instant matter is distinguishable from Jones because the Officer in Jones detected

a “strong” smell of burnt marijuana emanating from Jones’s vehicle, whereas, according to Petitioner,

Officer Diaz only detected a “faint” odor of marijuana emanating from the Mercedes involved in the instant

matter and that.6 Additionally, Petitioner argues that Officer Diaz’s testimony regarding the odor of

marijuana is flawed because it was uncorroborated. As explained below, we find that Petitioner’s argument

is unsound for various reasons.

            First, in his Brief in Support of his License Suspension Appeal, Petitioner claims that Officer

Diaz testified to merely smelling a “faint” or “slight” odor of marijuana in the Mercedes at the scene of the

accident. (See Petitioner’s Brief, dated 5/24/18, at 4, 6). Petitioner’s claim, however, appears to be

inaccurate. We have thoroughly reviewed the transcript from the May 9, 2018 Hearing in this matter, and

not once does Officer Diaz utilize the word “faint” or “slight” when describing the odor of marijuana

emanating from Petitioner’s Mercedes. During direct examination, Officer Diaz stated that when he first

began speaking with Defendant at the scene of the accident, “there was a burnt odor of marijuana that was

coming from the vehicle that [Petitioner] had occupied.” (N.T. at 6). Later during direct examination,

when discussing his search of the Mercedes, he testified that the odor of marijuana he detected “was

slightly masked with some type of perfume spray or something like that.” (N.T. at 8). However, when

6
  Petitioner additionally argues that Officer Diaz’s testimony regarding the marijuana odor was unsound
because it was “uncorroborated.” However, as alluded to above, the Superior Court in Jones rejected a
virtually identical argument in that case. Jones, 121 A.3d at 527 (“[Jones] argues that uncorroborated
police testimony regarding the odor of marijuana is an insufficient foundation to request section 1547
testing. We do not agree.”).
254 (2018)]                           DAUPHIN COUNTY REPORTS                                             263
                            Diaz v. Dept. of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing

utilizing the term “masked,” it does not appear that Officer Diaz was attempting to describe the strength or

weakness of the marijuana odor; rather, Officer Diaz was attempting to convey that regardless of the

strength of the marijuana odor itself, that odor had been diluted with some sort of perfume or masking

agent.

              The only time the word “faint” was utilized during the Hearing was when Petitioner’s counsel

was cross examining Officer Diaz and the following exchange took place:

                         Petitioner’s Counsel: You testified – I believe, and I could
                         be wrong – that you smelled a faint odor of marijuana on
                         [Petitioner’s] person as well.

                         Officer Diaz: I don’t believe I said that.

                         Petitioner’s Counsel: So you didn’t?

                         Officer Diaz: Not from his person. I said from the vehicle.

(N.T. at 15). In such exchange, it was Petitioner’s counsel that introduced the term “faint” into the

conversation, and that term was utilized by counsel in connection with a possible smell of marijuana on

Petitioner’s person rather than in the Mercedes. Moreover, Officer Diaz’s response to counsel’s inquiry

does not confirm that any odor of marijuana he detected was “faint.” In responding to counsel’s inquiry, as

shown above, Officer Diaz merely intended to clarify the location of the odor that he smelled, rather than

the strength of the odor he smelled.

              Second, aside from the inaccuracy of Petitioner’s assertion regarding the strength of the

marijuana odor detected by Officer Diaz, we find that by emphasizing the strength of the marijuana odor

and attempting to distinguish the instant matter from Jones, Petitioner reads and interprets the Jones

opinion too narrowly. The officer in Jones indeed detected a “strong” odor of marijuana emanating from

Jones’s vehicle, and this was discussed in the Superior Court’s recitation of the facts in that case. However,

nowhere did the Superior Court state that its holding hinged upon the strength of the odor or that its holding

only applies to cases where an odor of marijuana is markedly strong. In delivering its holding, the Superior

Court explicitly stated as follows:

                         Unlike cases where police suspect alcohol-based DUI,
                         evidence of operator consumption of any marijuana is
                         enough to allow police to request a section 1547 blood test
                         for suspected controlled substance-based DUI. Such
                         evidence includes the distinct odor of burnt marijuana
                         emanating from a vehicle in which the operator is the sole
                         occupant.
264                                 DAUPHIN COUNTY REPORTS                                  [126 DAUPHIN
                           Diaz v. Dept. of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing

Jones, 121 A.3d at 529 (emphasis added). In this statement, the court merely declares that if an officer

detects an odor of burnt marijuana emanating from a vehicle and the operator is the sole occupant, the

officer has reasonable grounds to request section 1547 chemical testing of the operator. Nowhere in this

statement does the Superior Court utilize the word “strong” or make any reference to the strength of a

marijuana odor which must be detected by an officer before he is permitted to request chemical testing.

            Moreover, were we to interpret the Jones opinion to require a “strong” smell of marijuana

before an officer could request section 1547 chemical testing, this would create a standard that would be

incredibly difficult to objectify or quantify. If we were to interpret Jones in the manner suggested by

Petitioner, officers, upon detecting an odor of burnt marijuana emanating from a motorist’s vehicle, would

hypothetically find themselves asking the subjective question: “Is this odor of marijuana sufficiently strong

for me to request chemical testing of this motorist?” And even if the officer were to determine subjectively

that the odor of marijuana was “strong” enough to justify a test for chemical testing, the subjective nature

of such an inquiry would lend itself to a plethora of court challenges by motorists and require the courts to

make their own decisions that would be just as subjective and unpredictable. We cannot imagine that the

Superior Court, in delivering its holding in Jones, envisioned or intended such a consequence.

            Finally, it must not be lost upon us that the Jones court, in delivering its decision, heavily

emphasized the specific distinction between alcohol-related DUIs and controlled-substance-based DUIs.

As Jones clearly explained, as it pertains to suspected controlled-substance-based DUIs, an officer may

request a motorist submit to chemical testing if the officer reasonably believes that the motorist has any

amount of a controlled substance (e.g. marijuana) in his or her bloodstream. Therefore, the court held,

evidence of any marijuana consumption constitutes reasonable grounds for requesting chemical testing. If

Jones were interpreted such that an officer may request chemical testing only if he detects a “strong” odor

of marijuana, such an interpretation would largely undermine the court’s holding that evidence of any

marijuana consumption constitutes reasonable grounds to request section 1547 testing.7

            All of this considered, while we acknowledge that this is a close case and the Commonwealth’s

evidence against Petitioner is not abounding, we find that based upon the Superior Court’s holding in

Jones, Officer Diaz’s testimony regarding the marijuana odor emanating from the Mercedes is sufficient

7
  It is also worth reiterating that the Jones case involved a criminal defendant’s attempt to suppress blood
test results in connection with criminal DUI charges. The instant matter, on the other hand, merely
involves an appeal of a license suspension, which is a civil matter. As explained above, the standard of
reasonable grounds to support a civil license suspension is less stringent than that required for a criminal
conviction. Since Jones held that the odor of burnt marijuana emanating from a vehicle is sufficient to
support the standard associated with a criminal prosecution, it seems beyond cavil that such an odor would
be sufficient to establish the much lower standard associated with a civil license suspension.
254 (2018)]                             DAUPHIN COUNTY REPORTS                                               265
                              Diaz v. Dept. of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing

evidence to establish that the Officer had reasonable grounds to request chemical testing from Petitioner at

the scene of the accident. Since Petitioner failed to submit to such chemical testing, suspension of his

driving privileges was warranted. However, we respectfully suggest that this case, if appealed, may be a

proper vehicle to revisit the evidentiary issues associated with this case. Specifically, we encourage the

Commonwealth Court, may it be so inclined, to further examine the holding of Jones, and ascertain whether

such holding is still viable in light of recent developments in Pennsylvania law, namely, the recent

legalization of medical marijuana and the possible legalization of recreational marijuana in the future.

III.   Conclusion.

              In light of the foregoing, Petitioner has not shown that he is entitled to enjoinment of his license

suspension. Accordingly, we enter the following:

                                                     ORDER

              AND NOW, to wit, this 23rd day of August, 2018, upon consideration of the evidence admitted

at the hearing in this matter as well as the parties’ memoranda of law, the appeal filed in the above

referenced matter is hereby DISMISSED and the suspension shall be REINSTATED.

              ISSUED AT HARRISBURG, the date first above written.
FIRST PUBLICATION                                  SECOND PUBLICATION

                 Estate Notices                                      Estate Notices
 ESTATE OF EILEEN R. SEAKER, late of                 ESTATE OF MARGARET A. MURRAY, late
Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Penn-        of Steelton Borough, Dauphin County, Pennsylva-
sylvania, (died: July 9, 2018). Executor: Barbara   nia. Personal Representative/Executrix: REGINA
Seaker Yurovich, c/o Hazen Law Group, 2000          M. MOWERY, 1034 Highland Drive, Mechan-
Linglestown Road, Suite 202, Harrisburg, PA         icsburg, PA 17055 or to: Attorney: JENNIFER M.
17110 or to Estate of Eileen R. Seaker, c/o Hazen   MERX, ESQUIRE, SkarlatosZonarich LLC, 17
Law Group, 2000 Linglestown Road, Suite 202,        South 2nd Street, Floor 6, Harrisburg, PA 17101.
Harrisburg, PA 17110.                       s7-21                                              a31-s14

 ESTATE OF ANN L. STAUFFER, a/k/a ANN                ESTATE OF J. KEITH RIDER, late of Lon-
LOUISE STAUFFER, late of Derry Township,            donderry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylva-
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Administrator:        nia (died: August 5, 2018). Executrix: Edna L.
Michael L. Stauffer c/o Gerald J. Brinser, P. O.    Rider, 2053 Felker Road, Middletown, PA 17057.
Box 323, Palmyra, PA 17078 - Attorney.     s7-21    Attorney: John S. Davidson, Esquire, Yost &
                                                    Davidson, 320 West Chocolate Avenue, P.O. Box
 ESTATE OF SUSAN L. ETZWEILER, late of              437, Hershey, PA 17033-0437.           a31-s14
the Township of Washington, County of Dauphin,
Pennsylvania (died: July 19, 2018). Executrix:       ESTATE OF ROGER HOPE URBAN, a/k/a
Yvonne E. Etzweiler Breinich, 353 Roller Road,      ROGER H. URBAN, late of Lower Paxton
Elizabethville, Pennsylvania 17023; Attorney:       Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Ad-
Joseph D. Kerwin, Kerwin & Kerwin, LLP, 4245        ministrator: Thomas C. Klunk, 20 Sandy Court,
State Route 209, Elizabethville, Pennsylvania       Hanover, PA 17331. Attorneys for the Estate:
17023.                                   s7-21      Crabbs & Crabbs, 202 Broadway, Hanover, PA
                                                    17331, (717) 637-9799.               a31-s14
 ESTATE OF ANTHONY A. FERRAR, late of
Middletown Borough, Dauphin County, Pennsyl-         ESTATE OF TRUMAN N. TROUTMAN, late
vania, (died: June 11, 2018). Executrix: Kelly      of Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County,
Ferrar Palumbo, 93 Tennyson Drive, Plainsboro,      Pennsylvania. Executrix: Trudy Jo Troutman
NJ 08536. Attorney: Elizabeth H. Feather, Es-       Giddings, 554 Center Street, Millersburg, PA
quire, CALDWELL & KEARNS, PC, 3631 North            17061. Attorney: Earl Richard Etzweiler, Es-
Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110.      s7-21      quire, 105 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101,
                                                    (717) 234-5600.                           a31-s14
 ESTATE OF DOTTI LYNN YINGLING, late
of Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County,             ESTATE OF ROSEMARY K. FRIED, late of
Pennsylvania (died: July 4, 2018). Administrator:   Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Penn-
Stephen S. Yingling, 175 Hiddenwood Drive,          sylvania. Executrix: Ms. Margaret E. McCor-
Harrisburg, PA 17110. Attorney: Robert G.           mick, 157 A. Chevy Chase Street, Gaithersburg,
Radebach, Esquire, 912 North River Road, Hali-      MD 20878 or her attorney: William R. Bunt,
fax, PA 17032.                             s7-21    Esquire, 109 South Carlisle Street, P.O. Box 336,
                                                    New Bloomfield, PA 17068.                 a31-s14
 ESTATE OF SANDRA M. LEITNER a/k/a
SANDRA MAE LEITNER, late of Susquehanna              ESTATE OF MARIAN D. SUTTER, late of
Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (died:       Hummelstown, PA, No. 22-18-0722, (died: July
July 13, 2018). Executor: Keith Leitner, 746        25, 2018). Executor: Paul E. Sutter, 118 Hivue
North Bucknell Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130.      Lane, Pittsburg, PA 15237. Attorney: Orlando R.
Attorney: Stephen M. Greecher, Jr., Attorney's      Sodini, Esquire, SutterWilliams, LLC, 850 Ridge
Address Tucker Arensberg, P.C., 2 Lemoyne           Avenue, Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. a31-s14
Drive, Suite 200, Lemoyne, PA 17043.     s7-21
                                                     ESTATE OF MARGERY D. ROMBERGER,
                                                    late of Ross Township, Kalamazoo County, Michi-
                                                    gan, owning real estate situate in Washington
                                                    Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Exec-
                                                    utor: John Finlay Meyer, 6142 North 37th Street,
                                                    Richland, MI 49083. Attorney: Earl Richard
                                                    Etzweiler, Esquire, 105 N. Front Street, Harris-
                                                    burg, PA 17101, (717) 234-5600.        a31-s14
THIRD PUBLICATION
          SECOND PUBLICATION
                                                                     Estate Notices
                 Estate Notices
                                                     ESTATE OF CHARLES H. MUTH, late of
 ESTATE OF ELLWOOD R. BAKER, JR.,
                                                    Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
late of Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County,
                                                    (died: July 23, 2018). Co-Executors: Ronald
Pennsylvania, (died: July 27, 2018). Executor:
                                                    Eugene Muth and Kimberly Coreen Silks (Boyer).
Pamela Sue Swope, c/o Hazen Law Group, 2000
                                                    Attorney: Veronica N. Range, Esquire, Cunning-
Linglestown Road, Suite 202, Harrisburg, PA
                                                    ham, Chernicoff & Warshawsky, P.C., 2320 North
17110 or to Estate of Ellwood R. Baker Jr., c/o
                                                    Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110.   a24-s7
Hazen Law Group, 2000 Linglestown Road, Suite
202, Harrisburg, PA l7110.            a31-s14        ESTATE OF ELLIOT S. VESELL, late of
                                                    Hershey, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, (died:
 ESTATE OF GERTRUDE D. DANKO, late of
                                                    July 23, 2018). Executrix: Hilary Vesell, Esq.,
Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Penn-
                                                    Vesell Law, LLC, 310 W. Chocolate Ave., Her-
sylvania, (died: July 14, 2018). Executor: Linda
                                                    shey, PA 17033, (717) 533-4868.        a24-s7
L. Duckett, c/o Hazen Law Group, 2000 Lingle-
stown Road, Suite 202, Harrisburg, PA 17110 or
to Estate of Gertrude D. Danko, c/o Hazen Law        ESTATE OF S. SAVA MACUT, late of Lower
Group, 2000 Linglestown Road, Suite 202, Harris-    Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
burg, PA 17110.                             a31-    Executor: Jan M. Petredis, 109 Breckenridge
s14                                                 Drive, Wexford, PA 15090. Attorney: Shannon
                                                    L. Crew, Esquire, Houston Harbaugh, Three Gate-
 ESTATE OF ALETHA ANN KNUPP a/k/a
                                                    way Center, 401 Liberty Avenue, 22nd Floor,
ALETHA A. KNUPP a/k/a ALTHEA ANN
                                                    Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1005.              a24-s7
KNUPP, late of Swatara Township, Dauphin
County, Pennsylvania, (died: July 11, 2018).         ESTATE OF CATHARINE N. KEHLER, late
Executor: Randy L. Knupp, 5481 Newside Road,        of Lower Paxton Township, Harrisburg, Dauphin
Harrisburg, PA 17111 or to Attorney: Jean D.        County, Pennsylvania, (died: 7/6/2018). Execu-
Seibert, Esquire, CALDWELL & KEARNS, PC,            tor: David H. Kehler. Attorney: Andrew S.
3631 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110.      Rusniak, Esquire McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC,
                                          a31-s14   570 Lausch Lane, Suite 200, Lancaster, PA 17601,
                                                    Telephone: 717-581-3704.                  a24-s7
 ESTATE OF COLLEEN F. ROHRER, late of
Township of Lower Paxton, Dauphin County,            ESTATE OF EARL W. STIMELING, JR.,
Pennsylvania. Executor: Stephen C. Nudel, Law       late of Lower Swatara Township, Dauphin County,
Offices Stephen C. Nudel, PC, 219 Pine Street,      Pennsylvania. Executrix: Christine M. Stimeling
Harrisburg, PA 17101. Attorney: Stephen C.          c/o Michael L. Bangs, Esquire, Bangs Law Office,
Nudel, Esquire, Law Offices Stephen C. Nudel,       LLC, 429 South 18th Street, Camp Hill, PA
PC, 219 Pine Street, Harrisburg, PA 1710.           17011.                                   a24-s7
                                          a31-s14
                                                     ESTATE OF ALFRED A. REDMOND, JR. a/
  ESTATE OF BONNIE MAE MESSICK, late                k/a ALFRED ALLEN REDMOND, JR., late of
of 1219 Hudson St, Harrisburg, Dauphin County,      Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, (died: July 28, 2018). Executrix:     (died: July 4, 2018). Co-Executors: Alfred Allen
Carol L. Messick, 32319 CR 112, Robertsdale, AL     Redmond, III, 6241 Huntingdon Street, Harris-
36567. Attorney: Jennifer M. Merx, Esquire,         burg, PA 17111; Aleshia Alexandra Ann Redmond
SkarlatosZonarich LLC, 17 S. Second Street Har-     3655 Chambers Hill Road, Apt. 512, Harrisburg,
risburg, PA 17101.                         a31-     PA 17111. Attorney: Robert G. Radebach, Es-
s14                                                 quire, 912 North River Road, Halifax, PA 17032.
                                                                                               a24-s7
 ESTATE OF FJOLA SALERNO, late of Steel-
ton Borough, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania,           ESTATE OF IRENE M. GREEN, late of the
(died: July 24, 2018). Executrix: Rose Ann Carr,    Township of Lower Paxton, Dauphin, County,
c/o Lisa Marie Coyne, Esquire, COYNE &              Pennsylvania. Executrix: Janet K. Romberger,
COYNE, P.C., 3901 Market Street, Camp Hill, PA      4301 Valleyview Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112.
17011-4227.                             a31-s14     Attorney: Theresa L Shade Wix, Esq., Wix,
                                                    Wenger & Weidner, 4705 Duke Street, Harrisburg,
                                                    PA 17109-3041.                          a24-s7
THIRD PUBLICATION                                     FIRST PUBLICATION

                 Estate Notices                                      Corporate Notices
 ESTATE OF KATHERINE J. WOLFE, late of                 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN HIGHLAND
Millersburg Borough, Dauphin County, Pennsyl-        INDUSTRIES, INC. doing business under the
vania (died: July 3, 2018). Executor: Kenneth P.     alternate name of HIGHLAND INDUSTRIES OF
Beach, 176 Center Street, Millersburg, PA 17061.     PA, INC. filed a foreign registration statement
Attorney: Dale K. Ketner, Ketner Law Office,         with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The
LLC, 129 Market Street, Millersburg, PA 17061.       address of its principal office under the laws of its
                                          a24-s7     jurisdiction is 1350 Bridgport Dr., Suite 1, Kern-
                                                     ersville NC 27284. The commercial registered
 ESTATE OF JEANNE L. ALBRIGHT, late of               office provider is in care of National Registered
Middletown Borough, Dauphin County, Pennsyl-         Agents, Inc. in Dauphin County. The Corporation
vania (died: June 7, 2018). Executor: Diane B.       is filed in compliance with the requirements of the
Tillotson, c/o Pannebaker & Mohr, P.C., 4000         applicable provisions of 15 Pa. C.S. 412.         s7
Vine St, Suite 101, Middletown, PA 17057 or to
Attorney: Kendra A. Mohr, Esq., Pannebaker &           NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Foreign
Mohr, P.C., 4000 Vine St, Suite 101, Middletown,     Registration Statement has been filed with the
PA 17057.                                 a24-s7     Department of State of the Commonwealth of
                                                     Pennsylvania, at Harrisburg, PA on or about July
 ESTATE OF LINDA C. FOWLER, a/k/a                    31, 2018, for a foreign corporation with a regis-
LINDA FOWLER, a/k/a LINDA C. HORTON,                 tered address in the state of Pennsylvania as fol-
a/k/a LINDA C. JARRELL, late of Dauphin              lows: ICBC Standard Bank Pic d/b/a in PA as:
County, Pennsylvania, (died: June 21, 2018).         ICBC Standard Corp. c/o Capitol Corporate Ser-
Executor: Keith P. Fowler, 60 Southcrest Road,       vices, Inc.
York Haven, PA 17370. Attorney: John A.                This corporation is incorporated under the laws of
Feichtel, Esquire, Sullivan Rogers & Feichtel, 100   England and Wales.
Sterling Parkway, Suite 100, Mechanicsburg, PA         The address of its principal office is 20 Gresham
17055.                                     a24-s7    Street, London, EC2V 7JE, United Kingdom.
                                                       The corporation has been qualified in Pennsylva-
 ESTATE OF ZELDA D. EVANOFF, late of
                                                     nia under the provisions of the Business Corpora-
Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Penn-
                                                     tion La\v of 1988, as amended.                   s7
sylvania (died: July 14, 2018). Executor: Christ
Evanoff, III, 730 Fishing Creek Valley Road,          NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN Concise Media
Harrisburg, PA 17112. Attorney: John S. Da-          Design, Inc., a foreign corporation formed under
vidson, Esquire, Yost & Davidson, 320 West           the laws of the State of New York where its princi-
Chocolate Avenue, P.O. Box 437, Hershey, PA          pal office is located at 137 Varick St, Ste 602, NY,
17033-0437.                               a24-s7     NY 10013 has or registered to do business in
                                                     Pennsylvania with the Department of State of the
 ESTATE OF NANCY L. BRANDT, late of
                                                     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at Harrisburg,
Middletown Borough, Dauphin County, Pennsyl-
                                                     PA, on 8/24/18, under the provisions of the Penn-
vania, (died: July 24, 2018). Executor: Timothy
                                                     sylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988.
D. Brandt c/o Hazen Low Group, 2000 Lingle-
                                                      The registered office in Pennsylvania shall be
stown Road, Suite 202, Harrisburg, PA 17110 or
                                                     deemed for venue and official publication purpos-
to Estate of Nancy L. Brandt, c/o Hazen Low
                                                     es to be located in Dauphin County.               s7
Group, 2000 Linglestown Road, Suite 202, Harris-
burg, PA 17110.                          a24-s7       NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN PFT Employee
                                                     Benefit Solutions, Inc., a foreign corporation
                                                     formed under the laws of the state of Delaware
                                                     where its principal office is located at 400 N. Field
                                                     Drive, Lake Forest, IL 60045, has registered to do
                                                     business in Pennsylvania with the Department of
                                                     State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at
                                                     Harrisburg, PA, on July 24, 2018 under the provi-
                                                     sions of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation
                                                     Law of 1988.
                                                      The registered office in Pennsylvania shall be
                                                     deemed for venue and official publication purpos-
                                                     es to be located in Dauphin County.                s7
FIRST PUBLICATION                            NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN Warkentine, Inc,
                                                         a foreign corporation formed under the laws of the
                Corporate Notices                        State of Oklahoma where its principal office is
                                                         located at 750 SW 24th St, Moore, OK 73160, will
 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Articles of                 register to do business in Pennsylvania with the
incorporation were filed with the Department of          Department of State of the Commonwealth of
State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at            Pennsylvania, at Harrisburg, PA, under the provi-
Harrisburg, PA, on August 14, 2018 for Geriatric         sions of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation
Care Management, Inc. to be effective August             Law of 1988.
15, 2018. The said corporation has been incorpo-          The registered office in Pennsylvania shall be
rated under the provisions of the Business Corpo-        deemed for venue and official publication purpos-
ration Law of 1988 of the Commonwealth of                es to be located in Dauphin County.             s7
Pennsylvania, as amended.
                                                           NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by Beta Phi
               CUNNINGHAM, CHERNICOFF &                  Chapter of the Fraternity of Kappa Alpha
                        WARSHAWSKY, P.C.                 Theta, a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, that
s7                Bruce J. Warshawsky, Esquire           said corporation is winding up its affairs in the
                                                         manner prescribed by section 5975 of the Nonprof-
 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Articles of                 it Corporation Law of 1988, so that its corporate
Incorporation were filed with the Department of          existence shall cease upon the filing of Articles of
State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for a         Dissolution in the Department of State of the
business corporation which has been incorporated         Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.                     s7
under the provisions of the Business Corporation
Law of 1988. The name of the corporation is                NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by Epsilon Rho
Podimetrics PA, Inc.                          s7         House Corporation of Kappa Alpha Theta
                                                         Fraternity, a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation,
  NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN Oath (Americas)                 that said corporation is winding up its affairs in the
Inc., a foreign corporation formed under the laws        manner prescribed by section 5975 of the Nonprof-
of the State of Maryland where its principal office      it Corporation Law of 1988, so that its corporate
is located at 22000 AOL Way, Dulles, VA 20166,           existence shall cease upon the filing of Articles of
has registered to do business in Pennsylvania with       Dissolution in the Department of State of the
the Department of State of the Commonwealth of           Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.                       s7
Pennsylvania, at Harrisburg, PA, on 7/25/18, under
the provisions of the Pennsylvania Business Cor-          NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN Schenker Ameri-
poration Law of 1988.                                    cas, Inc., a foreign corporation formed under the
  The registered office in Pennsylvania shall be         laws of the State of Delaware where its principal
deemed for venue and official publication purpos-        office is located at 800 NW 62nd Ave, Ste 600,
es to be located in Dauphin County.              s7      Miami, FL 33126, has registered to do business in
                                                         Pennsylvania with the Department of State of the
  NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN Rimrock Corpo-                  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on 8/9/2018, at
ration, a foreign corporation formed under the           Harrisburg, PA, under the provisions of the Penn-
laws of the State of Ohio where its principal office     sylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988.
is located at 1700 Jetway Blvd, Suite 1800, Co-           The registered office in Pennsylvania shall be
lumbus, OH 43219, has registered to do business          deemed for venue and official publication purpos-
in Pennsylvania with the Department of State of          es to be located in Dauphin County.            s7
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at Harris-
burg, PA, on 8/23/18, under the provisions of the          NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN Executive Wom-
Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988.           en International Business/Career/Development
  The registered office in Pennsylvania shall be         Program, a foreign corporation formed under the
deemed for venue and official publication purpos-        laws of the State of Utah where its principal office
es to be located in Dauphin County.               s7     is located at 1288 Summit Ave, Ste 107, PMB124,
                                                         Oconomowoc, WI 53066, has registered to do
  NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by Gamma The-                   business in Pennsylvania with the Department of
ta Facility Corporation of Kappa Alpha Theta             State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at
Fraternity, a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation,        Harrisburg, PA, on 8/15/18, under the provisions
that said corporation is winding up its affairs in the   of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of
manner prescribed by section 5975 of the Nonprof-        1988.
it Corporation Law of 1988, so that its corporate          The registered office in Pennsylvania shall be
existence shall cease upon the filing of Articles of     deemed for venue and official publication purpos-
Dissolution in the Department of State of the            es to be located in Dauphin County.               s7
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.                       s7
FIRST PUBLICATION                                       FIRST PUBLICATION

                Corporate Notices                                     Miscellaneous Notices
  NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on August                  IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
22, 2018, Articles of Incorporation - Non-Profit                  DAUPHIN COUNTY,
were filed with the Commonwealth of Pennsylva-                     PENNSYLVANIA
nia, Department of State, in Harrisburg, Pennsyl-
vania.                                                              NO.: 2009-CV-15658-MF
  The name of the corporation is Central Dauphin
Youth Wrestling Association.                                            CIVIL DIVISION
  The corporation is organized as a non-profit
entity under the provisions of the Pennsylvania                 NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE
Non-Profit Corporation Law of 1988, and as                          OF REAL ESTATE
amended.
  The purpose for which it is to be organized is        US BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
social welfare group, youth sports, wrestling,          NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY,
fitness activities, and any other lawful activity.      BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE
                                                        RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2012-5T,
              Law Offices of Kevin Tanribilir, P.C.     PLAINTIFF
                             701 East Front Street      VS.
                              Berwick, P A 18603        CLAIR R. NOEL AND KAREN L.
                                    570-752-6200        HOFFMAN AND SHEENA N. HOFFMAN,
s7                      tamibilirlaw@verizon.net        DEFENDANTS

                                                         Notice of Sheriff’s Sale of Real Estate on Decem-
                                                        ber 6, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. in Dauphin County
             FIRST PUBLICATION                          Administration Building, 2nd and Market Streets,
                                                        Commissioners Hearing Room, 4th Floor, Harris-
             Fictitious Name Notices                    burg, PA 17101.
  NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an applica-                ALL THE RIGHT, TITLE, INTEREST AND
tion for registration of a fictitious name, R&D         CLAIM OF CLAIR R. NOEL and KAREN L.
Partners, for the conduct of business in Dauphin        HOFFMAN and SHEENA N. HOFFMAN OF, IN
County, Pennsylvania, with the principal place of       AND TO:
business being at 505 Sansome Street, Suite 1020,        ALL THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED REAL
San Francisco, CA 94111, was approved by the            ESTATE SITUATE IN LYKENS BOROUGH,
Department of State of the Commonwealth of              COUNTY OF DAUPHIN, COMMONWEALTH
Pennsylvania at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on             OF PENNSYLVANIA:
August 17, 2018, pursuant to the Act of Assembly         HAVING THEREON ERECTED A DWELL-
of December 16, 1982, Act 295.                          ING KNOWN AND NUMBERED AS 616 LAU-
  The name and address of the entity owning or          REL LANE, LYKENS, PA 17048. DEED
interested in the said business is: R&D Consulting      BOOK 5821, PAGE 156, PARCEL NUMBER 37-
Group, Inc., 505 Sansome Street, Suite 1020, San        013-019-000-0000.
Francisco, CA 94111.                            s7       US Bank, National Association, Not In Its Indi-
                                                        vidual Capacity, but Solely As Trustee for the
  NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to the               RMAC Trust, Series 2012-5T v. Clair R. Noel and
provisions of Act of Assembly No. 295, effective        Karen L. Hoffman and Sheena N. Hoffman, at
March 16, 1983, of intention to file in the office of   Execution Number 2009-CV-15658-MF in the
the Department of State of the Commonwealth of          amount $315,791.42.
Pennsylvania, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, an            Schedule of Distribution will be filed by the
application for the conduct of a business in Dau-       Sheriff on the date specified by the Sheriff no later
phin County, Pennsylvania under the assumed or          than thirty (30) days from sale date. Distributions
fictitious name, style or designation of Name:          will be made in accordance with the schedule
AdvanceIQ Network, with its principal place of          unless exceptions are filed within ten (10) days of
business at: 3101 Gaylord Parkway, Frisco, TX           the filing of the schedule.
75034. The names and addresses of all persons or
entities owning or interested in said business are:        WELTMAN, WEINBERG & REIS CO., L.P.A.
Intrinsiq Specialty Solutions, Inc., 3101 Gaylord                          Benjamin N. Hoen, Esq
Parkway, Frisco, TX 75034. The application has                             436 7th Ave, Ste. 2500
been filed on 8/30/2018.                          s7                        Pittsburgh, PA 15219
                                                        s7                          412-434-7955
You can also read